Healthy Smoothie Recipe
Everyone loves a good smoothie, but not everyone really thinks about the fact that not all smoothies are created equal. The nutritional value of your favorite smoothies can vary widely depending on the ingredients, and the quality of ingredients, that you put into them. So while pretty much every kind of fruit or yogurt smoothie will taste good, finding a healthy smoothie recipe that also tastes good is a beautiful thing that should not be taken for granted.
Whether you’re on a diet or just trying to stay healthy, it’s always good to make sure that your smoothie recipes are healthy ones. This is especially true if you are the kind of person who enjoys smoothies so much that you find yourself drinking them on a daily, or almost daily, basis. Sure, there’s nothing really wrong with that, but if the smoothies you’re drinking are not made with a healthy recipe and you’re not supplementing your diet with sufficient exercise, you may find yourself putting on an extra pound or two after several weeks of smoothie drinking.
What is a Healthy Smoothie?
So what makes a smoothie healthy? The biggest part of what determines whether or not you’re making a healthy smoothie is the amount of fat and sugar that goes into it. Using ingredients that contain milk fat, such as yogurt, will raise the amount of fat content in your beverage. On the other hand, yogurt is healthy in other ways, so it may be a tradeoff for you between fat and other benefits. Another thing to consider is that fruits generally contain a high amount of sugar. While fruit smoothies are generally healthy, putting too much fruit in your drink may actually deter from the healthiness of what you’re drinking due to the high sugar content.
A good, healthy smoothie recipe will typically contain low-fat yogurt, if any yogurt at all. Make sure the yogurt is plain, not flavored, in order to keep the sugar content low. If you want to avoid yogurt altogether, whether for dietary reasons, texture or just personal preference, you could instead use silken tofu, which will give your smoothie a nice consistency while providing you with some soy protein. You’re also likely to use a banana, as they don’t contain quite as much sugar as most other fruits. Bananas are also a good source of potassium, which promotes muscle health, among other benefits. If you normally add sugar to your smoothies, try substituting it for a little bit of Splenda – it’s a natural sweetener that doesn’t come with the calories of regular sugar. Instead of putting all sorts of fruits into your healthy smoothie, try using berries instead. They will provide a delicious taste without all the sugar and calories of fruits like apples or peaches. And you’ll also benefit from the nutritional power of berries. Blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and strawberries are packed with Vitamin C!
A tasty and healthy smoothie is easy to achieve as long as you find a healthy smoothie recipe that you like. Go ahead, experiment with different ingredients and find the combination that’s right for you!
How to Make Healthy Smoothies
We all want to stay healthy and smoothies are a good tool to keep us on track. It’s easy to get carried away with your smoothie recipes, though, so try these healthy smoothie recipes to make sure you’re staying fit.
Orange Cranberry Booster Smoothie
This is a delicious smoothie recipe with a protein kick to help you stay in shape. Protein is good for muscle development, so this would be a good one to drink after a workout.
Ingredients:
- 1 banana
- 1 orange
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1 cup ice
- ¼ cup raspberry sherbet
- ½ cup strawberries
- ¼ cup protein powder (whey, unless you prefer a different kind)
Directions:
Peel your orange and pull it apart into individual segments. Clean out the middle sections of your strawberries. Combine all of the ingredients into your blender and mix on medium speed until the smoothie arrives at the consistency you prefer. If you want it to be thicker, just add a little more sherbet. For a thinner mixture, add some cranberry juice. This is the type of smoothie you’ll want to drink through a straw, and you’ll probably have enough to share with a friend.
Ultimate Healthy Fruit Smoothie
As you’ve probably noticed, there are lots of ways to make a healthy smoothie. You could use non-fat milk, low-fat yogurt and a variety of other healthy ingredients. In this particular recipe, we stick with the natural nutrients found in fresh fruits and berries.
Ingredients:
- 2/3 cup skim milk
- 1/3 cup pure pomegranate juice
- 1/3 cup fresh mango juice
- 4 fresh strawberries
- 1/3 cup fresh raspberries
- 1/3 cup fresh blueberries
- 2 tbsp honey
Directions:
If you’ve got all these fresh ingredients, you’re all set. Just blend them all together. When they’ve turned into that familiar, smooth consistency, you’re ready to enjoy a delicious and healthy smoothie.
Healthy Peach Smoothie
This is a favorite snack to make for the kids as well as for yourself. Not only is this a great smoothie, it’s a diabetic-friendly recipe too!
Ingredients:
- 1 cup of skim milk
- 1 container of fat-free peach yogurt (the kind with zero-calorie sweetener)
- 2 cups of fresh peaches (sliced)
- 1 cup of crushed ice cubes
Directions:
Combine and blend all the ingredients except for the ice. After a few seconds of blending, add the ice gradually. Your result will be a very smooth, creamy and delicious peach smoothie. For variations, try using apricots or nectarines instead of, or in addition to, the peaches. You could also try using a differently flavored yogurt, such as blueberry or strawberry, instead of the peach yogurt. The possibilities are endless!